Toy vehicle launcher

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle launcher comprising a housing, a guide track connected to the housing, and a slidable member movably engaged with the guide track. The housing includes a lever mechanism, wherein actuation of the lever mechanism causes the slidable member to move along the length of the guide track in a forward direction. A plurality of projections are pivotally mounted to the slidable member and protrude upwardly from the guide track. The plurality of projections are configured to allow a toy vehicle to pass over the one or more projections only when the toy vehicle travels along the guide track in the forward direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to accessories for toy vehicles, and inparticular, to a track accessory for launching or propelling one or moretoy vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Toy vehicles with wheels that roll and spin freely with minimal frictionhave long been a source of entertainment for children of all ages. Avariety of tracks and playsets have also been developed for use withsuch toy vehicles. One popular feature often incorporated with thesetracks and playsets is a mechanism that launches or propels a toyvehicle along a track or towards a target structure. While numerous toyvehicle launchers may be found in the art, there remains an opportunityto further enhance a child's play experience by providing new and uniqueaccessories and mechanisms for launching and propelling toy vehicles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A toy vehicle launcher that allows for the propulsion of both stationaryand moving toy vehicles is disclosed herein. In accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present invention, the toy vehicle launchercomprises a housing, a guide track connected to the housing, and aslidable member movably engaged with the guide track. The housingincludes a lever mechanism, wherein actuation of the lever mechanismcauses the slidable member to move along the length of the guide trackin a forward direction. One or more projections are pivotally mounted tothe slidable member and protrude upwardly from the guide track. The oneor more projections are configured to allow a toy vehicle to pass overthe one or more projections only when the toy vehicle travels along theguide track in the forward direction.

In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the toyvehicle launcher comprises a housing that includes a lever mechanism, astraight guide track positioned beside the housing, and a slidablemember movably engaged with the guide track and operatively coupled tothe lever mechanism. A plurality of projections are pivotally mounted tothe slidable member and protrude upwardly from the guide track. Theplurality of projections is configured to allow a toy vehicle to passover the plurality of projections when the toy vehicle travels along theguide track in a forward direction. Actuation of the lever mechanismcauses the slidable member to move along the length of the guide trackin the forward direction. Furthermore, actuation of the lever mechanismcauses the plurality of projections to move with the slidable member andpropel a toy vehicle engaged by one of the plurality of projections inthe forward direction.

In one or more embodiments, the lever mechanism of the toy vehiclelauncher includes a lever that is actuated by applying a downward forceon the lever. Actuation of the lever mechanism causes the slidablemember to move from a rearward position to a forward position.Typically, the slidable member is biased to the rearward position. Infurther embodiments, the toy vehicle launcher is configured such thatthe toy vehicle travels on a surface of the guide track and the slidablemember moves underneath the surface of the guide track. In certainembodiments, the surface of the guide track has an elongate opening andthe projections protrude through the elongate opening.

Each projection pivots between an upright position and a depressedposition. Typically, the plurality of projections are biased to theirupright positions. Each projection further has a front surface and aback surface. The front surface of the projection is configured toengage a rear end of the toy vehicle while the projection is in theupright position. The back surface of the projection is angled withrespect to the guide track while the projection is in the uprightposition and coplanar with the guide track while the projection is inthe depressed position. In certain embodiments, the toy vehicle launchercomprises three projections positioned in a line parallel to the lengthof the guide track.

In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the toyvehicle launcher comprises a housing and a straight guide trackpositioned beside the housing. The straight guide track has a tracksurface for a toy vehicle to travel along and an elongate openingpositioned in the center of the track surface. A slidable member ismovably positioned underneath the track surface. The housing includes alever mechanism and the slidable member is operatively coupled to thelever mechanism. Actuation of the lever mechanism causes the slidablemember to move in a straight line in a forward direction along thelength of the guide track. Three or more projections are pivotallymounted to the slidable member and protrude upwardly through theelongate opening of the guide track. The three or more projections areconfigured to allow a toy vehicle to pass over the three or moreprojections when the toy vehicle travels along the guide track in theforward direction. Furthermore, actuation of the lever mechanism causesthe three or more projections to move simultaneously with the slidablemember and propel a toy vehicle engaged by one of the three or moreprojections in the forward direction.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that thedetailed description, drawings, and examples provided, while disclosingsome embodiments, are given by way of illustration and not limitation.Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present inventionmay be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the presentinvention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIGS. 1A and 1B provide perspective views of a toy vehicle launcher, inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 provides a section view along the line 2-2 from the toy vehiclelauncher shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of the toy vehicle launcher shown inFIGS. 1A-1B with a portion of the housing removed.

FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of toy vehicle launcher shown inFIGS. 1A-1B with a portion of the housing and the guide track removed.

FIGS. 5A and 5B provide top perspective views of a toy vehicle launcherlaunching a stationary toy vehicle, in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the invention. FIG. 5A shows the toy vehicle launcherloaded with a toy vehicle. FIG. 5B shows the toy vehicle launcherlaunching the toy vehicle.

FIGS. 6A and 6B provide top views of a toy vehicle launcherpropelling/boosting a toy vehicle traveling through the toy vehiclelauncher, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 6A shows the toy vehicle launcher receiving a moving toyvehicle. FIG. 6B shows the toy vehicle launcher propelling/boosting themoving toy vehicle.

FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of a toy vehicle launcher as part ofa toy vehicle playlet, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A toy vehicle launcher is provided that can easily receive and propelboth stationary and moving toy vehicles. The toy vehicle launcher has aguide track and a lever mechanism that causes a slidable member to movealong a portion of the guide track. The slidable member includes aplurality of projections that are used for propelling a toy vehicleplaced on or traveling along the guide track. The plurality ofprojections are pivotally mounted onto the slidable member and allow toyvehicles to pass over the projections unidirectionally. Theconfiguration of the projections allows the toy vehicle launcher torepeatedly receive and propel incoming toy vehicles, such as a toyvehicle performing continuous laps around a closed track.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a toy vehicle launcher according to anexemplary embodiment is shown. The toy vehicle launcher 100 includes ahousing 102 for a lever mechanism 104 and a guide track 106 connected toone side of the housing 102. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,the guide track 106 includes a straight track portion 107. In otherembodiments, the guide track 106 includes a curved track portion. In thedepicted embodiment, the guide track 106 has a flat base 108 and anangled track surface 110, but in other embodiments, the track surface110 need not be angled as shown (and may be flat or angled at adifferent angle). An elongate opening 112 is positioned in the center ofthe track surface 110. The track surface 110 also includes walls 114,116 that help define the path of travel for a toy vehicle moving alongthe guide track 106. Typically, the walls 114, 116 define a tracksurface 110 with a width of slightly more than that of a single toyvehicle. The ends 118, 120 of the guide track 106 allow for end-to-endconnection or coupling with other track segments or components. Forexample, the ends 118, 120 may be coupled to other track segments orcomponents using tongue-and-groove friction fit or snap-together nestingtabs.

The guide track 106 further includes an inlet track 122 that allows anadditional track section or component to be coupled to the toy vehiclelauncher 100. The inlet track 122 is positioned proximate to the frontof the toy vehicle launcher 100 such that a toy vehicle entering theguide track 106 via the inlet track 122 bypasses the area of toy vehiclepropulsion on the guide track 106. In other embodiments, the inlet trackis positioned proximate to the center or rear of the toy vehiclelauncher 100 such that a toy vehicle entering the guide track 106 viathe inlet track is within or enters the area of toy vehicle propulsionon the guide track 106.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the housing 102 of the toy vehicle launcher 100includes a lap counter 124. The lap counter 124 may be manually operatedto keep track of the number of times a toy vehicle has successfullyperformed a lap around a track. Other counters, gauges or meters mayalso be used, for example to indicate the velocity at which a toyvehicle is launched, the force exerted when operating the levermechanism, the number of times the lever mechanism has been actuated orthe number of times a toy vehicle has been successfully propelled by thetoy vehicle launcher 100. Such counters, gauges or meters may bemanually operated or automatically adjusted mechanically orelectronically.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate the internal components of the toy vehicle launcher100. In the depicted embodiment, a slidable member 126 is configured tomove inside and/or underneath the guide track 106 (i.e., underneath thetrack surface 110). However, in some embodiments, the slidable member126 is on top of or coplanar with the track surface 110. A portion 200of the slidable member 126 is straight and configured to move in alinear direction along the guide track 106. In other embodiments, theguide track 106 includes a curved track portion and a portion of theslidable member 126 is shaped accordingly such that is it able to movealong the curvature of the guide track 106. The slidable member 126includes three projections 128, 130, 132 arranged in a line parallel tothe length of the guide track 106. Other embodiments of the inventioninclude toy vehicle launchers having a different number of projections,such as one, two, or more than three projections.

The projections 128, 130, 132 are each pivotally mounted to the slidablemember 126 and each pivot individually between an upright position A anda depressed position B (see, e.g., FIG. 2). Each of the projections 128,130, 132 protrude through the elongate opening 112 on the guide track106 when in its upright position A. By comparison, each of theprojections 128, 130, 132 is substantially recessed within the guidetrack 106 (e.g., beneath or coplanar with track surface 110) when in itsdepressed position B. Note that for illustrative purposes, FIGS. 2-4depict the projection 128 in its upright position A and depict theprojections 130, 132 in their recessed positions B.

Typically, biasing members such as torsion springs 202, 204, 206 biaseach projection 128, 130, 132 to its upright position A. The elongateopening 112 allows each of the projections 128, 130, 132 to pivotdownwards to their respective depressed position B as well as travelforward and back with the slidable member 126 along the guide track 106.Additionally, each of projections 128, 130, 132 may have a limited rangeof rotation, such as a range spanning approximately 30 degrees, a rangespanning approximately 45 degrees, a range spanning approximately 90degrees, or any other range less than or equal to approximately 90degrees. This range or rotation may be achieved with stops, biasingmembers, part geometries or any combination thereof. This limited rangeof rotation may ensure that a back surface of each projection 128, 130,132 is positioned at an angle with respect to the track guide 110 whenthe projection 128, 130, 132 is an upright position, as is explained infurther detail below.

Each projection 128, 130, 132 has a respective front surface 208, 210,212 and back surface 214, 216, 218. In the upright position A, the frontsurfaces 208, 210, 212 are positioned to engage or contact the rear of atoy vehicle and are flat and substantially perpendicular or normal tothe track surface 110 of the guide track 106. In other embodiments, thefront surfaces 208, 210, 212 have a different shape or contour thatbetter conforms to the rear of a toy vehicle. In the upright position A,the back surfaces 214, 216, 218 are positioned to engage or contact thefront of a toy vehicle and are angled with respect to the track surface110 of the guide track 106.

In at least one embodiment, when a toy vehicle traveling in a forwarddirection C along the guide track 106 contacts the back surface 214, 216or 218 of a projection 128, 130 or 132 in the upright position A, thetoy vehicle causes the contacted projection to pivot to its depressedposition B. In the depressed position B, the contacted projection issufficiently recessed so that it does not obstruct the movement of thetoy vehicle as the toy vehicle continues to travel over the projection.In one instance, the front surface is underneath the track surface 110and the back surface is substantially coplanar with the track surface110 while the contacted projection is in the depressed position B.Finally, when the toy vehicle has moved past the contacted projection,the contacted projection returns to its upright position A.

Put generally, the projections 128, 130, 132 are configured to allowunidirectional movement of a toy vehicle through the toy vehiclelauncher 100. That is, the projections 128, 130, 132 are configured toallow a toy vehicle to travel through the toy vehicle launcher 100 in afirst direction (e.g., a forward direction) and to prevent a toy vehiclefrom traveling through the toy vehicle launcher in a second directionthat is opposite the first direction (e.g., a reverse or backwardsdirection). In the depicted embodiment, this is achieved by providingback surfaces 214, 216, 218 of projections 128, 130, 132 that are angledto allow a toy vehicle to depress the projections 128, 130, and/or 132as it contacts the projections 128, 130, and/or 132 while traveling in aforward direction C along the guide track 106 (i.e., so that the vehiclepushes the projections 128, 130, 132 to depressed positions B).Additionally, the front surfaces 208, 210, 212 of projections 128, 130,132 are oriented to contact a toy vehicle and the combination of frontsurfaces 208, 210, and 212 and the limited rotation of projections 128,130, and 132 prevent a toy vehicle from traveling in a reverse directionD along the guide track 106.

The housing 102 houses a lever mechanism 104 for moving the slidingmember 126 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4). The lever mechanism 104 includesa lever 220 attached to the housing 102 at a fulcrum 222, which providesa pivot point about which the lever 220 rotates. The fulcrum 222 is apeg or post that interfaces with a hole or recess in the lever 220. Inother embodiments, the fulcrum is a hole or recess that interfaces witha peg or post in the lever 220 or any other arrangement of componentsthat allow rotation. The degree of rotation available to the lever 220may be limited by the housing 102 (e.g., dimensions or shape of thehousing, size or length of openings in the housing) or other elementssuch as nubs or posts within the housing 102.

A first end 224 of the lever 220 extends beyond the perimeter of thehousing 102. A second end 226 of the lever 220 is operatively coupled tothe sliding member 126. The lever 220 rotates between a loading position(see, e.g., FIG. 4 or 5A) and a launching position (see, e.g., FIG. 5B)when a force in the downward direction E is applied. A biasing element228 (See FIG. 3), for instance a torsion spring, biases the lever 220 tothe loading position. Thus, when the external force acting upon thelever 220 is removed, the biasing element 228 returns the lever 220 tothe loading position. In some embodiments, there is no biasing elementcoupled to the lever 220 and a user manually moves the lever 220 fromthe launching position back to the loading position.

The lever mechanism 104 translates rotational movement of the lever 220into a substantially lateral movement of the slidable member 126 and theprojections 128, 130, 132 along the guide track 106. That is, when auser pushes down on the lever 220, the lever 220 transitions from theloading position to the launching position and the second end 226 of thelever 220 moves the sliding member 126 from a rearward position (see,e.g., FIG. 4) to a forward position (see, e.g., FIG. 5B) along thelength of the guide track 106 in the forward direction C. The rearwardposition may be adjacent or proximate a rear end of the elongate opening112 and the forward position may be adjacent or proximate a forward endof the elongate opening 112.

The amount that the sliding member 126 moves may be limited by themovement of the lever 220, the dimensions or shape of the guide track106, the length of the elongate opening 112 on the guide track 106,and/or an element such as rubber stop 230 within the guide track 106.When the lever 220 is released, the biasing element 228 causes the lever220 to return to the loading position and the second end 226 of thelever 220 moves the sliding member 126 back to the rearward position. Inthe depicted embodiment, gravity also facilitates the movement of theslidable member 126 back to the rearward position because the slidablemember 126 moves along an inclined track surface. In some embodiments, abiasing element such as a spring or elastic band further biases theslidable member 126 to the rearward position.

When the force applied by a user in the downward direction E to thefirst end 224 of the lever 220 is converted into a force in the forwarddirection C, the projections 128, 130, 132 can transfer this forwardmotion to a toy vehicle to propel the toy vehicle. Thus, the greater theforce applied to the lever 220 (in direction E) results in the greaterthe velocity at which the toy vehicle is launched or propelled (indirection C). Furthermore, the toy vehicle launcher 100 allows for a toyvehicle to be launched or propelled from a stationary position or whilethe toy vehicle is in motion along the guide track 106.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a toy vehicle launcher 300 launching a stationarytoy vehicle 302. As shown in FIG. 5A, a user first loads the toy vehicle302 onto the toy vehicle launcher 300 by placing the toy vehicle 302against a first projection 304 on a guide track 310. Because theprojections 304, 306, 308 are able to individually pivot to a depressedposition, the user may also place the toy vehicle 302 against the secondprojection 306 or third projection 308 if desired. The lever 312 of thetoy vehicle launcher 300 begins in the loading position F due to thebiasing force of a biasing element. When a user pushes down on the lever312 (see FIG. 5B), the lever 312 rotates to the launching position G andcauses the slidable member 314 and projections 304, 306, 308 to movetogether towards a front end of the guide track 310. As the projection304 moves forward, the projection 304 engages with the toy vehicle 302and propels the toy vehicle 302 forward (e.g., onto a connected tracksection 316) in the forward direction C. When the lever 312 is released,the lever 312 moves back to the loading position F and the slidablemember 314 moves back towards the rear end of the guide track 310.Meanwhile, the biasing of projections 304, 306, 308 causes any of theprojections 304, 306, 308 that had been depressed by the toy vehicle 302return to their upright positions. Thus, the toy vehicle launcher 300 isautomatically reset for the next launching of a toy vehicle.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate the toy vehicle launcher 300 boosting a toyvehicle 318 traveling along the guide track 310. Instead of loading thetoy vehicle launcher 300 by placing the toy vehicle 318 against aprojection, the toy vehicle 318 enters the toy vehicle launcher 300 viathe rear end of the guide track 310 traveling in direction C (see FIG.6A). The pivotally mounted projections 304, 306, 308 allow the toyvehicle to pass over the projections while moving in the forwarddirection C (toy vehicle 318 is on top of projection 306 in FIGS. 6A and6B). Actuation of the toy vehicle launcher 300 may be timed such thatwhen a user pushes the lever 312 to the launching position G, theslidable member 314 moves toward the front end of the guide track 310and one of the projections 304, 306, 308 engages with the rear end ofthe moving toy vehicle 318. As shown in FIG. 5B, the third projection308 has engaged with the rear end of the moving toy vehicle 318 andprovides an additional boost to the toy vehicle 318 as it continuestowards the connected track section 316 in the forward direction C. Whenthe lever 312 is released, the lever 312 moves back to the loadingposition F and the slidable member 314 moves back towards the rear endof the guide track 310. The toy vehicle launcher 300 is thus reset topropel or boost another incoming toy vehicle. Proper timing is requiredto successfully boost a toy vehicle traveling along the guide track 310.If a user actuates the toy vehicle launcher 300 too early or too late,the projections 304, 306, 308 would move forward without engaging andpropelling the toy vehicle.

FIG. 7 illustrates a toy vehicle launcher 300 as part of a toy vehicleplayset 400 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The toy vehiclelauncher 300 is connected with track sections 402 to form a closed track404. Track supports 406 elevate and angle portions of the closed track404 at various heights. Embodiments of the invention also include toyvehicle playlets having other track or raceway layouts and orientations,such as a flat figure-8 layout. Furthermore, the toy vehicle playset 400may be a stand-alone product or be part of a larger playset thatincludes, for example, additional toy vehicle tracks, loops, stuntdevices or other accessories.

One or more toy vehicles may be initially launched by the toy vehiclelauncher 300. When the toy vehicle travels around the closed track 404and completes a lap, the toy vehicle re-enters the toy vehicle launcher300. The toy vehicle launcher 300 may then be actuated again to providean additional boost to the toy vehicle. With recurring successfulboosts, the toy vehicle is able to continuously perform multiple lapsaround the closed track 404. In the instance where the toy vehicle isnot successfully boosted, the toy vehicle may consequently not havesufficient forward momentum to complete a full lap around the closedtrack 404.

Thus, a gameplay element is provided that requires a user to accuratelytime the actuation of the toy vehicle launcher 300 in order tosuccessfully boost a moving toy vehicle. The user may try to see howmany complete laps a toy vehicle can successfully travel around theclosed track 404. The number of completed laps may be recorded with alap counter (see, e.g., lap counter 124 in FIG. 1B). By increasing thenumber of projections on the toy vehicle launcher 300, the probabilityof one of the projections engaging with a toy vehicle moving along theguide track increases. In other words, it is easier for a user toaccurately time the boosting of a toy vehicle with a toy vehiclelauncher having three or more projections than it is with a toy vehiclelauncher having only one or two projections.

Although the disclosed embodiments are illustrated and described hereinas embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless notintended to be limited to the details shown, since various modificationsand structural changes may be made therein without departing from thescope of the present embodiments and within the scope and range ofequivalents of the claims.

Moreover, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,”“top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,”“upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the likeas may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of referenceand do not limit the present embodiments to any particular orientationor configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” may be used herein todescribe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein asexemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageousembodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possibleembodiment.

Finally, various features from one of the embodiments may beincorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it isappropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in amanner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. A toy vehicle launcher, comprising: a housing including a levermechanism; a straight, inclined guide track positioned beside thehousing; a slidable member movably engaged with the inclined guide trackand operatively coupled to the lever mechanism, wherein actuation of thelever mechanism causes the slidable member to move along a length of theinclined guide track in a forward direction, up an incline defined bythe inclined guide track; and a plurality of projections pivotallymounted to the slidable member and protruding upwardly from the inclinedguide track, the plurality of projections configured to allow a toyvehicle to pass over the plurality of projections when the toy vehicletravels along the inclined guide track in the forward direction; whereinactuation of the lever mechanism causes the plurality of projections tomove with the slidable member and propel a toy vehicle engaged by one ofthe plurality of projections in the forward direction.
 2. The toyvehicle launcher of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projectionscomprises three projections positioned in a line parallel to the lengthof the inclined guide track.
 3. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 1,wherein each projection of the plurality of projections pivots betweenan upright position and a depressed position, and is biased to itsupright position.
 4. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 3, wherein eachprojection of the plurality of projections has a front surface and aback surface, the back surface of a particular projection of the one ormore projections being angled with respect to the inclined guide trackwhen the particular projection is in the upright position and the backsurface being coplanar with the inclined guide track when the particularprojection is in the depressed position, and wherein the front surfaceof each projection of the plurality of projections is configured toengage a rear end of the toy vehicle.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The toy vehiclelauncher of claim 1, wherein actuation of the lever mechanism causes theslidable member to move from a rearward position to a forward position,and the slidable member is biased to the rearward position.
 7. The toyvehicle launcher of claim 1, wherein the slidable member movesunderneath a surface of the inclined guide track when a toy vehicletravels on the surface of the inclined guide track.
 8. The toy vehiclelauncher of claim 7, wherein the surface of the inclined guide track hasan elongate opening and the plurality of projections protrude throughthe elongate opening.
 9. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 1, whereinthe lever mechanism comprises a lever and the lever mechanism isactuated by applying a downward force on the lever.
 10. A toy vehiclelauncher, comprising: a housing including a lever mechanism; an inclinedguide track connected to the housing; a slidable member movably engagedwith the inclined guide track, wherein actuation of the lever mechanismcauses the slidable member to move along a length of the inclined guidetrack in a forward direction, up an incline defined by the inclinedguide track; and one or more projections pivotally mounted to theslidable member and protruding upwardly from the inclined guide track,the one or more projections configured to allow a toy vehicle to passover the one or more projections only when the toy vehicle travels alongthe inclined guide track in the forward direction.
 11. The toy vehiclelauncher of claim 10, wherein the one or more projections comprise threeprojections positioned in a line parallel to the length of the inclinedguide track.
 12. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 10, wherein the oneor more projections each pivot between an upright position and adepressed position, and are biased to their upright positions.
 13. Thetoy vehicle launcher of claim 12, wherein the one or more projectionseach have a front surface and a back surface, the back surface beingangled with respect to the inclined guide track when its projection isin the upright position and the back surface being coplanar with theinclined guide track when its projection is in the depressed position,and wherein the front surface of each of the one or more projections isconfigured to engage a rear end of the toy vehicle.
 14. (canceled) 15.The toy vehicle launcher of claim 10, wherein actuation of the levermechanism causes the slidable member to move from a rearward position toa forward position, and the slidable member is biased to the rearwardposition.
 16. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 10, wherein the slidablemember moves underneath a surface of the inclined guide track when a toyvehicle travels on the surface of the inclined guide track.
 17. The toyvehicle launcher of claim 16, wherein the surface of the inclined guidetrack has an elongate opening and the one or more projections protrudethrough the elongate opening.
 18. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 10,wherein the lever mechanism comprises a lever and the lever mechanism isactuated by applying a downward force on the lever.
 19. A toy vehiclelauncher, comprising: a housing including a lever mechanism; a straight,inclined guide track positioned beside the housing, the inclined guidetrack having a track surface for a toy vehicle to travel along and anelongate opening positioned in a center of the track surface; a slidablemember movably positioned underneath the track surface and operativelycoupled to the lever mechanism, wherein actuation of the lever mechanismcauses the slidable member to move in a straight line in a forwarddirection along a length of the inclined guide track, up an inclinedefined by the inclined guide track; and three or more projectionspivotally mounted to the slidable member and protruding upwardly throughthe elongate opening of the inclined guide track, the three or moreprojections configured to allow a toy vehicle to pass over the three ormore projections when the toy vehicle travels along the inclined guidetrack in the forward direction; wherein actuation of the lever mechanismcauses the three or more projections to move with the slidable member upthe incline defined by the inclined guide track and propel a toy vehicleengaged by one of the three or more projections in the forward directionup the incline defined by the inclined guide track.
 20. The toy vehiclelauncher of claim 19, wherein: the three or more projections each pivotbetween an upright position and a depressed position; the three or moreprojections each have a front surface and a back surface; the frontsurface of each of the three or more projections is configured to engagea rear end of the toy vehicle; and the back surface of each of the threeor more projections being angled with respect to the inclined guidetrack when its projection is in the upright position and the backsurface being coplanar with the inclined guide track when its projectionis in the depressed position.
 21. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 1,further comprising: an inlet track positioned proximate to a forward endof the inclined guide track, forwardly of the plurality of projections,such that a toy vehicle bypasses, at least initially, the plurality ofprojections when entering the inclined guide track via the inlet track.22. The toy vehicle launcher of claim 10, further comprising: an inlettrack positioned proximate to a forward end of the inclined guide track,forwardly of the one or more projections, such that a toy vehiclebypasses, at least initially, the plurality of projections when enteringthe inclined guide track via the inlet track.